Why preventive care is important

Remember the old saying that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"? This can be especially true when it comes to preventive health care. Maintaining or improving your health is important - and a focus on regular preventive care, along with following the advice of your doctor, can help you stay healthy.

Shoulder arthroscopy

Apr 24, 2005 Viewed: 372

Definition

Shoulder arthroscopy is a type of surgery to examine or repair the tissues inside or around your shoulder joint. The procedure uses a small camera, called an arthroscope, which is inserted through a small incision. If the doctor is going to repair the joint, small surgical instruments are also used.

Description

The surgeon makes a small incision, about one-quarter inch (0.25”) long, near the shoulder joint. A small camera is then inserted into the joint. The camera is attached to a video monitor to allow the surgeon to see inside the joint.

Unlike knee arthroscopy, most patients are asleep during the surgery. Therefore, you will be unable to watch the video monitor. A nerve block may be used to numb the shoulder and arm to help reduce pain after surgery.

Saline (salt solution) is pumped into the shoulder to expand the joint. This helps the surgeon see the joint and helps control any bleeding.

The surgeon will look around the entire joint to evaluate the cartilage, tendons, and ligaments of the shoulder. If damaged tissues need to be repaired, the surgeon will make one to three additional small incisions to insert other instruments. These may include a blunt hook to pull on tissues, a shaver to remove damaged or unwanted tissues, and a burr to remove bone.

In addition to working on the shoulder joint, the surgeon often places the camera in the space above the rotator cuff tendons. (This is called the subacromial space.) The surgeon can evaluate the area above the rotator cuff, clean out inflamed or damaged tissue, remove a bone spur, and fix a rotator cuff tear.

At the completion of the surgery, the fluid is drained from the shoulder, the small incisions are closed, and a dressing is applied. Most surgeons take pictures of the procedure from the video monitor to show the patient what was found and what was done.

The expectations vary depending on the purpose of the surgery. In cases where repair is needed, remember that the body still needs to heal after arthroscopic surgery, just as if the surgery was done open. Therefore, the overall recovery time may still be lengthy.

Surgery to fix a cartilage tear is usually performed because the shoulder is not stable. Many patients have a full recovery, and the symptoms of instability go away. However, up to 10-20% of patients can have continued instability of the shoulder even after arthroscopic repair.

Using arthroscopy for rotator cuff repairs or Tendonitis usually relieves the pain, but it is less predictable how well your strength will return.

Convalescence

Recovery can take anywhere from one to six months, depending on the surgery that was performed. Most patients wear a sling for the first week. If a more extensive repair was performed, the sling may be worn longer. Pain medications are often used.

The ability for you to return to work or play sports will depend on the surgery that was performed, ranging from one week to several months.

For many procedures, especially if a repair is performed, physical therapy may help. This will help you regain the motion and strength of your shoulder. The length of therapy will depend on the repair that was performed.

Last revised: December 7, 2012by Mamikon Bozoyan, M.D.

Medical Encyclopedia

All ArmMed Media material is provided for information only and is neither advice nor a substitute for proper medical care. Consult a qualified healthcare professional who understands your particular history for individual concerns.

It's easy to make a financial decision based on what you need right now, but making an informed choice will benefit you in the long run. Meet a former Red Sox pitcher who picked security over an uncertain future